小人

xiǎorén

HSK 7

小人 — xiǎorén

1. person of low social status (old-fashioned)

   在古代，小人常被排斥在上层社会之外。 zài gǔdài xiǎorén cháng bèi páichì zài shàngcéngshèhuì zhīwài — In ancient times, persons of low status were often excluded from high society.

2. humble first-person pronoun 'I, me' (archaic/ceremonial)

   臣小人不敢多言。 chén xiǎorén bùgǎn duō yán — Your servant dares not speak further.

3. nasty person; vile character; scoundrel

   他真是个小人，背后说人坏话。 tā zhēnshì gè xiǎorén bèihòu shuō rén huàihuà — He's really a nasty person, talking bad about others behind their backs.

4. petty-minded person; someone ungenerous or mean-spirited

   别跟小人计较，他们就是为小事生气的人。 bié gēn xiǎorén jìjiào tāmen jiùshì wèi xiǎoshì shēngqì de rén — Don't bother with petty people; they're the ones who get angry over small things.